Christianity at the Crossroads: The Reformations of the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries

by Thomas F. Madden

Esteemed history professor Thomas F Madden explores the reformations that swept across Christendom in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. The impact of these reforms affected government, popes, and kings as well as commoners, for at this time the Church was an omnipresent part of European identity - and the import of Church reforms on every level of life at this time simply cannot be underestimated. Involved in this fascinating era are such notable personages as King Henry VIII, Martin Luther, and John Calvin. Through every aspect of this remarkable process of reformation, Professor Madden captures the essence of the era-and imparts a true, studied understanding of just what this time period meant to the course of human events.

Genres: History, Religion, Christianity, Nonfiction, Audiobook, Theology

7 pages, Audio CD

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

Thomas F. Madden is Professor of History and Director of the Center for Medieval and Renaissance Studies at Saint Louis University. As an author and historical consultant he appears in such venues as the New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, CNN, and The History Channel.

Dr. Madden's latest book is The Fall of Republics: A History from Ancient Carthage to the American Constitution. His previous books include Venice: A New History, The Concise History of the Crusades, Istanbul: City of Majesty at the Crossroads of the World, Empires of Trust, and Enrico Dandolo and the Rise of Venice. He has also written and lectured extensively on the ancient and medieval Mediterranean as well as the history of Christianity and Islam.

Awards for his scholarship include the National Endowment for the Humanities Public Scholar Award, the Medieval Academy of America's Haskins Medal, and the Medieval Institute's Otto Grundler Prize. He is a Fellow of the John Simon Guggenheim Foundation, the American Council of Learned Societies, and the Medieval Academy of America.

Reviews

[Roger Miller · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am horrified at the corruption and sinful choices the reformers and catholics made during the reformation. Thomas Madden makes a great quote: if the bible is the authority then everyone is an expert, and not one is in control. I believe this is exactly the point and what has been wrong with a Church that yiels power like earthly kings. Paul, Peter or Jesus never excercised power and control like earthly kings. We are to be in the world, but not of the world! This book caused me to resolve to be neither Catholic or Protestant but simply a follower of Jesus!

[Abdul Alhazred · Rating 3 out of 5]

Continuation of a good series into the reformation, some of the problems with the church structure were telegraphed in the last entry and now come into fruition as the discontent blossoms into the church fracturing. Madden also gets into the disillusionment suffered by Luther himself and early protestants as Christianity fractures further. A lot of time is spent on the evolution of Anglicanism and the history of England that surrounds it, which makes sense for a lecture series aimed at americans (as the various factions would come to gain great influence there), however it's perhaps at the cost of what was happening in the rest of Europe.

Alternative: Once again A History of Christianity: The First Three Thousand Years is a good alternative and he also wrote one specifically on the intricacies of the reformation - The Reformation: A History

[Don Heiman · Rating 5 out of 5]

In 2007 Recorded Books’s the Modern Scholar series released St. Louis University Prof Thomas Madden’s 14 audio lectures and course guide “Christianity at the Crossroads: 16th and 17th Centuries.” At the time of release Prof Madden was Professor and Chair of the University’s History department. He had authored 4 exceptional books on premodern European movements and related crusade conquests. His “Christianity Crossroads” lectures focus on the Protestant Reformation with insightful profiles of Martin Luther, John Calvin, and the Kingships of Charles 5th, King Henry VIII and British queens Mary and Elizabeth. The Catholic Church response to the reformation and the impact of the spiritual revolution throughout Europe and European foreign settlements in America are also very insightful. (P)

[A · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good insight into the history of the reformation. If more people knew the origin of what happened and why, they would see why what Luther wanted and what he got was not what he intended. Fascinating to learn what happened when poorly catechized people do not have a deep enough understanding of their faith and instead cling to the errors someone else claims to be true. Helps to understand why there are so many different forms of protestants.

[TRISHA · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting & fills in the holes as to why Christianity was splintered.

[Yasser Maniram · Rating 2 out of 5]

Monotone and presented dully. Significance of the content not made clear.

[Lin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really found this to be an enjoyable series of lectures, reminding me, once again, how decisive religion is, causing death, wars and misery for centuries.

[Coral · Rating 5 out of 5]

After preparing a Primary lesson on the reformation, I was interested in learning more about the key reformers. I went on-line to the library and found this book. When I went to pick it up, I discovered that it was actually a CD audiobook from the "Modern Scholars" series by recorded book. It is actually 14 lectures by a professor. They were fascinating. It took me a minute or two to get used to the style, since rather than a story being read, it was a man giving a lecture. It strengthened my understanding of the whole reformation and most importantly it strengthened my own testimony of the need for the gospel to be restored to the earth by a modern prophet.

[Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would like to describe Thomas F. Madden as a true scholar, after looking at all that is around these days, true scholars are in short supply. At least in my perception.

To me, it is hard to find a book (audio book for that matter) with so much information for the allotted time and phrased in such an interesting way. If you want a very good understanding and perspective of the Lutheran reformation in a short time, this is the book. Assumes very little knowledge on the part of the listener, yet is highly informative even while already having knowledge about the subject.

Definitely this is time well invested (and money, if you are to buy the audio-book).

[Jackie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good information, but too much of it. Dates and facts roll over me and I cannot process that so fast. For this reason I did not choose History as a major in High School; I felt I could not remember all that happened before me... Yes, this listening overwhelmed the old girl in me. It would have nice to hear more details about events and enjoy the historical and present moment that way.

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very nice overview of the Reformation giving background on the Church in Europe, discussing Luther, Zwingli, Calvin, and then the church if England. Madden finishes with a look at the Catholic response.

[Brad Wheeler · Rating 5 out of 5]

What it says on the tin. A great overview of the European reformations and the Catholic "counter-reformation." If you needed any proof that religion and politics are and always have been inseparable, then this is it.

[Seth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting history of many of the reformers, especially of Martin Luther.

[Brad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audio lectures

[Stephen Maegdlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Connected a lot of dots for me. From Luther to Henry VIII to the Council of Trent. It was a great "Listen". A great way to use your audible.com credits.

[Melinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another thoughtful and well delivered lecture series on the history of the Catholic and Protestant religions and how the Reformation was started and how it changed European history

[Rodney Harvill · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this lecture series, Professor Madden discusses the following aspects of the Reformation:

- The condition and sacraments of the church as of the eve of the Reformation, providing valuable background information
- Martin Luther and the rise of Lutheranism
- The rise of other Protestant leaders such as Huldrych Zwingli and John Calvin
- The unsuccessful efforts by Holy Roman Emperor Charles V to contain the teachings of Luther
- The influence of geopolitical considerations such as conflicts between France and Germany and Turkish advances in eastern Europe on the ability of Charles V to combat Lutheranism
- The Reformation in France
- The Reformation in England
- The Counter-Reformation

I found the lecture series informative. For example, Professor Madden noted that Luther's nailing of the ninety-five theses to the church door was not an act of defiance. Rather, it was a challenge to debate that was within the norms of the day. It was only after the ninety-five theses and other writings of Luther spread like wildfire because of the printing press that the church saw his teachings as a threat.

However, I also had some mixed feelings about this lecture series. Because Professor Madden teaches at a Catholic university and because of some of his comments in the lecture series, I am assuming that he is Catholic. I am unapologetically Protestant. He appears to hold to a view that the church holds the sole authority to interpret scripture and for the congregants to just get in line with that interpretation. In addition, his tone appeared to betray some smug amusement at Martin Luther's predicament when other reformers reading the same scriptures as he was started drawing conclusions different from his. I will address both of these impressions in turn.

First, I hold a "buck stops here" attitude relative to my spiritual health and consider my relationship with God too important to just press the "I Believe" button when a member of the clergy makes a pronouncement about scripture. I prefer to check things out and have gone so far as to teach myself biblical Greek to better understand the New Testament. This is not an attitude of disrespect for clergy; rather it is an attitude of personal accountability that is usually respected and encouraged by the clergy with whom I am acquainted.

Second, in Martin Luther's day, it appears to have been normal to hold a view regarding church doctrine that was similar to the Highlander's mantra: "There can be only one." Any deviation from accepted doctrine would have been seen as heretical. Given this, it is not surprising that Luther would have been greatly disturbed at different interpretations of scripture. That said, I fully recognize that people filter inputs through their worldview to come up with interpretations. Luther, Zwingli, Calvin and other reformers would have had differences in their worldviews that would have accounted for their differences in interpretation of the scriptures. I am not saying that God is the author of confusion. There is one truth, but the reformers' differences in worldview impacted their ability to converge on it. In like manner, the Catholic clergy were and still are no less susceptible to this issue.

Although I took issue with some of Professor Madden's apparent views, I still appreciated his perspective. For example, we Protestants are rightly disturbed by and critical of the efforts of the Catholic church and Catholics in positions of secular authority to forcefully suppress the spread of Protestant teachings by means of imprisonment and the death penalty. However, he notes that Protestant leaders were equally aggressive in suppressing Catholic teaching and used the same coercive measures. If it was wrong for Catholics to do this, it was no less wrong for Protestants to do it.

In his discussion of the Counter-Reformation, Professor Madden conceded that corruption in the Catholic clergy and their use of indulgences had helped to provide fertile ground for the Reformation. The Catholic church had its issues, and the Reformation did not happen in a vacuum. Professor Madden did not try to minimize this, and I appreciated that. He appears to value truth over dogma. Although I expect Protestants, like myself, to be somewhat offended at some things Professor Madden has to say, I consider this lecture series to be well done and worth listening to.